A chronological record of Charlie Buster’s artistic development, commissions, exhibitions, brand projects and wider creative practice, based on the artist’s supplied timeline.
1998 — Born in Kent, England.
From an early age Charlie demonstrated a natural passion for drawing and visual creativity, with photographic evidence documenting artistic activity from infancy.
2002–2005 — Early legal graffiti and street-inspired artwork
Began creating legal graffiti and street-inspired artwork. Developed an early fascination with typography, graffiti culture, murals, public art and urban environments.
2006–2007 — Independent artwork and early sales
Began producing and selling artwork independently. Started developing a recognisable artistic identity influenced by graffiti, street culture, music and contemporary popular culture.
2008 — Graffiti Kings London
Joined Graffiti Kings London at its inception. Worked across public art, commercial murals, workshops, events and creative projects while developing technical painting skills and gaining experience within the professional art industry. First major commercial work undertaken through Graffiti Kings, including projects connected to BBC productions.
2008–2019 — Graffiti Kings apprenticeship and professional development
Progressed from in-house artist to senior creative roles involving:
- Commercial mural production
- Public art projects
- Client management
- Workshop delivery
- Brand activations
- Creative consultancy
- Sales and business development
- Marketing and partnerships
- Head of Marketing & Collaborations
Worked on projects for global brands, public institutions, schools, councils, festivals and private clients throughout the UK.
2011 — V Festival VIP Area
Created mural artwork for the V Festival VIP Area on behalf of Graffiti Kings. Produced large-scale tropical-themed artwork and immersive event decoration. Later recognised this period as the conceptual birth of what would eventually become the Grime Art movement.
2012–2017 — Adidas collaborations
Contributed to multiple campaigns, activations, events and creative projects involving:
- Product launches
- Mural marketing
- Live art
- Street art content creation
- Private events
2014–2016 — Nike collaborations
Worked on a variety of campaigns and creative projects including:
- Product launches
- Mural marketing
- Live painting
- Brand activations
- Private events
June 2016 — DJ Bailey
Created a commissioned portrait artwork celebrating the influential Drum & Bass DJ and broadcaster. First major celebrity artwork commission.
September 2016 — Suzuki & Ant & Dec
Created a custom portrait artwork commissioned in association with Suzuki featuring television presenters Ant & Dec.
March 2017 — Section Boys (Smoke Boys)
Created a six-piece portrait series featuring all members of the influential UK rap collective. Also designed and hand-painted six custom Charlie Buster T-shirts worn during promotional photography.
July 2017 — Supercar Blondie
Produced commissioned portrait artwork celebrating the internationally recognised automotive content creator.
August 2017 — Furla
Created a collection of hand-painted luxury Furla handbags featuring iconic cultural figures including Bob Marley, Amy Winehouse and other music legends. Commissioned as part of the launch of Furla’s Bicester Village boutique.
2017–2019 — HMP Swaleside & HMP Lewes
Produced numerous large-scale murals throughout both correctional facilities. Projects focused on environmental improvement and community engagement through art.
April 2018 — FLUX Exhibition — Chelsea College of Arts, London
Participated in a major contemporary art group exhibition presented by FLUX Exhibition. First significant gallery exhibition.
2018–Present — M20 Graffiti Bridge
Produced numerous large-scale murals and graffiti productions at one of Kent’s best-known legal painting locations.
February 2019 — Miles Nazaire
Created commissioned portrait artwork featuring the television personality and entrepreneur.
June 2019 — Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range
Produced three large-scale mural installations for the venue’s restaurant space as part of the FLUX Exhibition programme.
July 2019 — FLUX Exhibition — Turning Tides Festival
O2 Arena, Greenwich Peninsula, London. Participated in a contemporary group exhibition alongside selected artists.
Summer 2019 — Gordon Ramsay — Lucky Cat
Hand-painted approximately 300 individual Lucky Cat sculptures for Gordon Ramsay’s Lucky Cat restaurant launch. The project later appeared in the Netflix documentary Being Gordon Ramsay. One of the most significant commercial art commissions of Charlie’s career.
October 2019 — Deno Driz
Produced artwork associated with the launch of the artist’s “Eye 2 Eye” project and accompanying promotional events.
January 2020 — Leake Street Roof Project
Completed a large-scale ten-metre rooftop artwork at London’s internationally recognised Leake Street graffiti tunnel.
March 2020 — FLUX Art Placement — Candriam Headquarters
Candriam Headquarters, Barbican, London. Selected for a corporate art placement programme organised by FLUX Exhibition.
March 2020 — Killa Kela & Lisa Marie
Produced portrait artwork featuring the renowned beatbox artist and presenter alongside Lisa Marie.
April 2020 — Fancy Alexandersson
Created a four-piece contemporary series reinterpreting photographic imagery through Grime Art techniques and aesthetics.
March 2020–Present — Aston Merrygold & Family
Produced multiple commissioned artworks and bespoke hand-painted jackets for Aston Merrygold and his family. Ongoing collaboration.
December 2020 — Lottie Tomlinson & Sue Ryder Charity
Commissioned artwork created to celebrate and announce a partnership involving Lottie Tomlinson and Sue Ryder.
December 2020 — Knucks
Produced a major Grime Art portrait commission celebrating the acclaimed UK rapper.
January–February 2021 — Black the Ripper, Screech Tree & Dank of England
Created multiple commemorative artworks honouring Black the Ripper and associated figures from UK cannabis and music culture.
February 2021–Present — Central Cee
Ongoing collaboration involving multiple original artworks including:
- Portrait paintings
- Wild West inspired artwork
- SYNA related artwork
- Featured artwork appearing in the music video “Ungrateful”
The video has accumulated tens of millions of views globally.
February 2021 — Grime Gran & Risky Roads
Produced commissioned portrait artwork celebrating the popular online personalities.
August 2021 — Not3s
Created a large-scale portrait commission of the British musician.
January 2022 — Yxng Bane
Produced commissioned portrait artwork.
February 2022 — Big Zuu
Produced commissioned portrait artwork.
March 2022 — EOS USA
Created a large-scale commissioned canvas for EOS USA headquarters.
November 2022 — Kidd Keo
Created commissioned portrait artwork for the internationally recognised Spanish rap artist.
January 2023 — Giggs
Produced a large-scale portrait commission celebrating one of the UK’s most influential rap artists.
July 2023 — Sevaqk
Produced commissioned contemporary portrait artwork.
October 2023 — Claudia Rose
Created bespoke portrait artwork for the professional dancer and content creator.
July 2024 — FLUX Exhibition — 206 Marylebone Road, London
Participated in a contemporary group exhibition showcasing current works.
2020–Present — Web3 & Digital Art
Co-created and helped launch multiple NFT and blockchain projects including:
- Graffiti Kings
- Crypto Moonboys & Girls — the Graffiti Kings-connected WAX creator umbrella, character identities, wiki and game world
- NoBallGames
Contributed to launches generating approximately $3,000,000 USD in cumulative sales and helped achieve a world-record NFT sales milestone exceeding one million NFTs sold within a 24-hour period.
Current Practice
Charlie Buster currently works as:
- Contemporary Artist
- Founder of Grime Art
- Mural Artist
- Creative Consultant
- Live Artist
- Brand Activation Specialist
- Public Artist
- Educator & Workshop Leader
Operating across original artworks, murals, sculptures, custom apparel, brand collaborations, public art, private commissions and cultural projects throughout the UK and internationally.
For commissions, available artwork and private enquiries, visit grimeartist.com or contact NO BALL GAMES.
Publicly Documented Canvas Records, 2018–2019
Five individual Saatchi Art listings identify early artworks as ABC TWO HEADS (2018), MY RADIANT CHILD (2018), INNER THOUGHTS (2019), DROP THE BOMB (2019) and LET IT FLOW… (2019). Their source listings give formats, dimensions and the artist’s own comments on influences.
Explore all five original catalogue records. The Charlie Buster online archive also links to press coverage, artist writing, social accounts and blockchain project records.
Research note: The sale totals, NFT world-record assertion and some career credits elsewhere in this timeline are supplied claims. The newly linked Saatchi records do not independently validate those separate claims.